Governor Perry Extends Drought Disaster Proclamation

Governor Rick Perry today renewed a proclamation declaring Texas in a state of disaster due to drought.  The proclamation was extended from one made last July.

The Lone Star State was first declared a disaster area in 2010 due to a severe lack of rainfall, which worked up to a record breaking drought in the summer of 2011.

Extending the proclamation allows municipalities to apply for state assistance as they try to cope with impacts of the drought, including water resource strain. It also means counties will have an easier time receiving aid during and after wildfires.

Despite a relatively wet winter, most of the state remains in severe drought. Numbers released last month show that almost 90% of the state remains drought stricken. Last year saw the costliest wildfire season in the state's history, and record losses of $7.6 billion were noted in the livestock and agriculture industries.